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How Can a Caulker Get Mesothelioma by Occupational Exposure to Asbestos?
Asbestos was used in a variety of products prior to the 1980s, including in caulk. This caulk was applied to fix cracks, fill joint gaps and seal windows. Caulkers worked in two of the industries most associated with asbestos exposure: construction and shipbuilding.
Caulk was used to seal cracks throughout buildings, including around the seals of boilers, ducts, brickwork, exteriors, fireplaces, ovens and pipe joints. It was also used to seal windows and glass panels. Asbestos was added to caulking to make the formula waterproof, durable and heatproof. Asbestos in caulk was often used in window putty to keep the heat inside and reduce drafts. Asbestos fibers are not released from caulking until the caulk is damaged by age, water, impact, sanding, scraping or its removal. Caulking hardens over time and may eventually crack. When it does, tiny particles of asbestos become airborne and can be inhaled by caulkers and other people in the area. Therefore, caulkers who are working on renovation or demolition projects are particularly at risk.
Asbestos was inexpensive, durable and resistant to heat, so it was ideal for a number of applications in the construction industry. Even if a caulker did not use caulking material contaminated with asbestos, they may have worked around other products that contained asbestos. Asbestos was included in floor tiles, shingles, drywall, joint compound, paint, glues and hundreds of other materials.
Caulking was also often used in the shipbuilding industry. It was used to seal seams to make ships watertight. It was also used to seal seams around boilers and other appliances in ships. These ships often had poor ventilation, which would increase the amount of time that these harmful fibers were in the air and could be breathed in by the people aboard.
Common job duties of caulkers include:
- Caulk seams
- Apply caulking material to seams between pressure vessels, boilers, tanks or ships to make them watertight
- Position caulking chisel on edge of seam to apply caulking material
- Close seams with hand caulking tool
- Climb on ladders or scaffolding to reach area to be caulked
- Inspect seams for the need for more caulk
- Operate a variety of hand and power tools
Locations in the United States for the Highest Employment Rates for Caulkers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics includes caulkers under the work category of “construction laborers and helpers.” According to the BLS, there are currently more than 1.645 million construction laborers employed in the United States. This job has an expected growth rate of 11% from 2018 to 2028, which is much faster than the average occupational projection.
States with the highest employment levels for construction laborers include:
- Texas
- California
- Florida
- New York
- Pennsylvania
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotations include West Virginia, New Mexico, Wyoming, North Dakota and Louisiana.
Similar Occupations as Caulkers
Similar occupations as caulkers include the following:
- Carpenters
- Cement masons
- Construction and building inspectors
- Construction helpers and laborers
- Drywall and ceiling tile installers and tapers
- Electricians
- Flooring installers
- Grounds maintenance workers
- Hazardous materials removal workers
- Insulation workers
- Masonry workers
- Millwrights
- Painters
- Plumbers
- Tile and marble setters
- Woodworkers
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Caulkers and Mesothelioma
Caulkers and other construction workers have filed lawsuits against asbestos product manufacturers and other parties legally responsible for their exposure to asbestos. For example, a federal jury returned a verdict in favor of families of two men who were exposed to asbestos while working at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. One of the men worked as a chipper and a caulker from 1945 to 1965 who checked to make sure ships were welded correctly and were watertight. He developed asbestosis and died from the condition. The other man worked as an electrician and also developed asbestosis. The lawsuit was filed against Owens-Illinois Inc., Raymark Industries Inc. and Celotex Corp. The verdict was for $7 million.
Studies Related to Caulkers and Asbestos
There have been a few scientific studies that demonstrate an increased exposure possibility for caulkers. For example, in the study entitled “Mortality among workers exposed to asbestos at the shipyard of Genoa, Italy: a 55 years follow-up“ found a statistically significant increased mortality for caulkers and several other ship workers.
Types of Asbestos Products Used by Caulkers
The primary product that caulkers may have been exposed to that contained asbestos was in the caulking material itself. This material once contained asbestos until the U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission banned it in 1977. Even though the product was banned, caulk in old buildings remains, so caulkers today could still be exposed to asbestos when demolishing or renovating older buildings.
Additionally, caulkers worked in conjunction with other construction workers and may have been exposed to asbestos from other construction materials that contained asbestos, such as:
- Adhesives, bonding agents and glues
- Boiler insulation
- Boilers
- Cabinet liners
- Cement powder
- Drywall and drywall tape
- Floor tiles
- Insulation
- Joint compound
- Mortar
- Paint
- Plumbing pipe wraps
- Shingles
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Used by Caulkers
Several different companies manufactured products that were commonly used by caulkers. Some of the most well-known asbestos manufacturers include the following:
- Abex Corporation
- P. Green Industries
- Armstrong World Industries
- Celotex Corp.
- CertainTeed Corporation
- GAF Corporation
- Garlock Sealing Technologies
- Johns Manville
- T. Thorpe and Son, Inc.
- National Gypsum Corporation
- Owens Corning Corporation
- Pittsburgh Corning
- Raybestos-Manhattan Co.
- Rutland
- UNARCO
- Union Carbide
- R. Grace & Co.
